INTERVIEWED BY STEVEN STowELL— —- —

emale i1lusionist/
singer / songwriter Noel

has just released a CD of
10 songs titled It's Justa Phase.
Recently, I had the opportunity
to sit down with Noel and talk
about the project.

OITM: You’ve been perform-
ing in the gay community for
a few years, why hasn't a CD
come out before now?

Noel: Financial constraints
have been the main reason it's
taken so long. It takes a seri-

- ous group of professionals and

a budget that corresponds with
the high levels of quality I was
seeking, but it's been a good
growth phase.

OITM: In regards to financial
constraints, what prompted
you to give up on the Believe

in Love project for which many .

people had prepaid for CD'S?
Noel: The objective of Believe
in Love is still first and fore-
most in my mind, in fact I con-
sider it to be my life's purpose.
Sometimes loving yourself
means letting go of a precon-
ceived expectation of a goal. In
this case, concerning those
people who have prepaid, they

     
 

will rec
their prepaid status with
simple instructions on how to
obtain a copy of It's Just a
‘Phase. They'll be pleased.
”Phase” is a better project;

OITM: With that in mind, what
made It's Just a Phase possible?

noel

it's iusz a phase

     

everything 50/ 50, both income
and expenses.

OITM: What is it about It's Just
a Phase that inspired Peter to
want to be an equal partner?

Noel: Unlike myself, Peter's
not someone who tends to
align himself with pop 1nusi—
cal trends. I must confess that

I am a pop music fanatic. Most '

Our motto is: why
can’t music be fun
and intelligent at
the same time?

Noel: I can sum that up in two

words: Peter Wilder. Previ~.

ously Peter was a producer/
arranger whom I hired to work
with my music, though I
would write the songs, he
would help me fine tune them.
With It's Just a Phase, Peter's
belief in me as an artist was
more important than mere
money up front. So in lieu of
making this a work for hire, we
decided to collaborate as writ-
ers and producers and split

importantly Peter recognized
my ability as an artist to write
a strong hook and create afor-
midable stage persona. My
abilities combine well with his
incredible ear for chord struc-
ture and melody and his many
talents as a musician, producer,
and engineer. These skills,
along with a desire to make an
impression in an otherwise
jaded industry, were the driv-
ing force behind this endeavor.
Our motto is: why can’t mu-

  
   

sic be fun and intelligent at the
same time?

OITM: How did you choose
the title of the CD? It seems to
imply a sense of instability
about the gay community.
Noel: I'm glad you asked. The
title was Peter's concept and
from the very beginning he
had a clear picture of the lay-
out of photography and the
look we were going for. I was
initially hesitant to grasp that
concept because of the obvious
connotations that we gay, les-
bian, bisexual, and
transgendered people are con-
stantly battling. But I realized
that It's Just a Phase has many
meanings, particularly in how
many heterosexuals View be-
ing gay, and I was able to step
back and not look at myself so
seriously. Every aspect of life
is just a phase.

OITM: Having heard the CD
myself, I noticed there are only
two songs that people have
previously heard and eight
new tunes. What happened to
your other ‘songs?

Noel: Before Peter and I began
this project in late January
1997, we had written sixteen
songs to date. Peter was very

-clear up front that since he es-

OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — OCTOBER 1997 — 11

 

 

sentially would be a 50/50 col-
laborator, every song needed
to be absolutely new and dif-
ferent.

OITM: This CD heralds a sig-
nificant change in your vocal
style.

Noel: To quote Peter, ”We de-
cided to depart from Noel’s
usual Shirley Bassey from-the-
gut style”. This time out we
opted for a more subtle, con-
trolled, breathy, and introspec-
tive sound.

OITM: Are you concerned that
so many differences in style
and music might deter your
fans from purchasing the CD?
Noel: Any creative artistic en-
deavor is a risk from the get go.
You take what you know, coin-
bine it with the knowledge of
others, especially those with

.more experience, and hope

that the end result is accepted.

For more information about
Noel and this CD, check out
the official NOEL WEBSITE:
homepages.together.net/
~iris/homepagehtm

To get your very own copy call
TONES toll free 800-585-3052
or call 802-635-2223.

November 5 ~ 8, 13 - 15 at 7:30 p.m.
November 16 at 2 [).m.

“Dating and dazzling! The most

QNMTHEATRE?

with

ambitious American play of our
time: an epic that ranges from

earth. to heaven...”

Jack Krotl,
Newsweek

“F iercely humane, gloriously
informed, bitchy, compassionate,
uncom pormiscd. . also falling-

ANGELS N AMERICA

PART ONE: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES
A GAY ‘FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES

down funny. . .”
l..inrl:=1 Winer
N ew.s(la_y

Vermont Stage Company 
Guest Artists

 

by Tony Kushner

2%;

$10 ~ $11.50 depending on perfornrauce
$2 discount for seniors,
full-time students of any age,
UVM Faculty/StalT and VSC inemliers,

At the Royall Tyler Tlicatrc
on the UVM Campus

(802) 656-2094

/9‘)./-"‘
PHYSl(..'|:\‘.V’.S
C( ).\'lI’1.,"l'l€IR
COM PANY

NATIONAL CCDMING
OUT DAY
NOIR ET BLEU, a Montreal-style
house party. Midnight amateur drag
contest hosted by B-ton's Cherie Tartt.
Go-go boys and girls. Wear leatherl
vinyl or denim please. McCullough

Center, Middlebury College. call
moqa FMl, 388-0750

Folk/blues singer and guitarist Ann
Reed will give a benefit performance
for Vermont National Organization for
Women Political Action Committee at
8 pm at the Universalist Unitarian
Church on Pearl Street in Burlington.
Tickets are on a sliding scale of $14
10 $16. FMI call Judy Murphy at 362-
2005.

Portland, ME, Chris Williamson & Tret
Fure in concert. FMI: 207-773-6974.

11-12 Amherst, MA, Third Annual
Western MA Lesbian & Gay
Parenting/Family Issues Conference.
FMI: Valuable Families, POB 60634,
Florence, MA 01061. I

MONDAY

Lesbian Herstory Archive: Lecture &
Interactive Slideshow presented by
Amy Beth of UVM Baily Howe Library.
7:00 pm Billings North Lounge at
UVM.

GLITTER Book Night at Rhombus
Gallery, comer of College and Church
Sts., Burlington. The Men From The
Boys by William J. Mann. Anew novel
by the P-town/Northampton-based
author explores the meaning of rela-
tionships in gay culture. How do we
define “family" - is monogamy the way
to go, elc...? Available at Chasman
& Bem in Burlington. (10% off it you

mention Glitter.) We'll pick a book for
November. FMI call Steven Kopstein
at 802-434-5653 or email:
GLlTTERvt@aol.com.

MTUESDAY

“Human Rights & Public Health: A
New Dynamic tor Social Change," 7
pm, Everyone's Books, 23 Elliot St.,
Brattleboro. FMI Carey at 254-8263.

@WEDNESDAY

Speakout featuring Ed Flannigan,
State Auditor, and Steve Howard,
Chair, Democratic Party & UVM/
Burlington Community. 12 noon,
UVM Bailey Howe Library Steps.

Stories & Monologues: “Once Upon
Coming Out,” featuring poets, actors,

singers, storytellers and more. 7:00 -

pm Billings North Lounge, UVM.

Riki Anne Wilchins, author of Read My -

Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End
of Gender (Firebrand) will read from
her book at 7:00 p.m. at Peace and
Justice, 21 Church St., Burlington VT.
For more information call 802-863-
8326. Wilchins is the Executive Di-
rector of GenderPac, a national orga-
nization dedicated to “gender,
affectional and racial equity”. S/he is
a founding member of the Transexual
Menace.

@TH U RSDAY

Panel: Another Vermont First — “Free-
dom to Marry, When We Talk About
Gay Marriage, What Do We Really
Mean?” 7:00 pm Billings North
Lounge, UVM